OREANDA-NEWS. By 2010 Belarus will substitute up to 700 million cubic meters of gas, Energy Minister of Belarus Alexander Ozerets stated at the session of the Presidium of the Council of Ministers which highlighted the draft state programme on modernization of the main production assets of the Belarusian energy system by 2010, reported the Official website www.government.by.

The Energy Minister noted that in accordance with the draft programme, $3.1 billion will be invested in modernization of the main production assets of the Belarusian energy system. By 2010, a total of 1,140- mW faculties will be made operational in Belarus.

One of the most important projects will be construction of a 450-mW combined-cycle plant at Minsk CHP-plant #5 which will help save about 330,000 tons of fuel equivalent. New combined-cycle plants will appear at Minsk CHP-plants #3 and #2. Bereza State District Power Plant, Grodno CHP-plant #2 and other plants will be upgraded. By 2010, as many as 16 mini CHP-plants will be built, of them 10 will be powered by local fuels.